Which bottled peanut sauce is best?

June 2, 2008 11:25 PM

Which brand of bottled peanut sauce comes closest to approximating the rich, coconutty taste of the peanut sauce served in most Thai restaurants?

You know what gooooood peanut sauce tastes like: smooth and creamy, with notes of lemongrass and maybe a little bit of kick. Someone has to have bottled that wonderfulness.

I've tried House of Tsang Bangkok Peanut Sauce, which is good but definitely not what I'm looking for (too much spice, not enough peanut). Taste of Thai's Peanut Satay Sauce is close on flavor, but too thick for use as a salad dressing or on pasta. Whole Foods alone has about fifteen more brands, but at $6-$9 a bottle, I'm not going to try them all-- so which ones should I try?

Thanks in advance!

posted by chickletworks to food & drink (11 comments total)

Avoid San-J. It tastes like peanut butter.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:59 AM on June 3, 2008

If Whole Foods makes a "365" (store brand) version, those are generally decent. But honestly, I've probably tried 5 or 6 kinds in the past and none of them have approached the homemade stuff. I just make my own now - it's actually very easy to make, and there's no comparison to the bottled stuff.
posted by boomchicka at 4:25 AM on June 3, 2008

I'm in the same boat: love peanut sauce, don't like any of the bottled sauces I've tried. But if you haven't yet, you might want to try the Taste of Thai Peanut Sauce Mix on that page you linked. It's a powder you mix with a can of coconut milk on the stovetop, heat just until it starts to boil then reduce and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Yummy to use however you want. It keeps in the fridge at least 3 days, which is as long as I've ever been able to save any, and is good cold, too. It's not that much harder than pouring it out of a bottle, and since they sell the powder in 24-oz tubs as well as the smaller envelopes it's much cheaper (wait until you see a sale on coconut milk and then stock up on cans).

Haven't yet found a bottled sauce as good.
posted by mediareport at 6:58 AM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Another thumbs-down for the 365 peanut sauce. No detectable peanut flavor.

I've used the Taste of Thai Peanut Sauce Mix (which comes in an envelope), mixed with a can of their coconut milk, and that is ok - better than any bottled sauce I've tried. And the good thing about the mix is that you can make it as thick or thin as you like by adjusting the amount of coconut milk you use. It's still not quite there though. I've pretty much given up on satay at home.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:04 AM on June 3, 2008

Gah! Should've previewed, sorry!
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:05 AM on June 3, 2008

You know, its actually quite easy to make at home. I know this isn't the answer you're looking for but there are only a few key ingredients in Thai peanut sauce and it takes only about 5 minutes to make. I make it all the time when I want a quick snack (I use it as a dipping sauce for tofu cubes).
posted by cazoo at 7:39 AM on June 3, 2008

Why not just thin the one you like (but find too thick) with a little water or milk? (Though making your own is really easy, too.)
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:46 AM on June 3, 2008

Looking at the ingredients of the bottles you linked, my hunch is that the element you're missing is fish sauce. It's the quintessential Thai flavoring, but nowhere to be found in either of those bottles.
It imparts a rich, savory quality, which may be what you're fishing (pardon the pun) for.

You could try, at the least, doctoring some.
posted by mkultra at 7:56 AM on June 3, 2008

I really like King of Siam Peanut Sauce. I buy it at our local Chinese grocery, so no idea how widely available it is.
posted by advicepig at 8:26 AM on June 3, 2008

At Whole Foods, you can ask any worker for a taste of any product. This policy was explicit at the Whole Foods I worked at, and I believe it was/is company policy. If you're standing in the sauce aisle and see someone stocking shelves, you can pick up a jar and go over and say, "I'd like to taste this, please." It shouldn't be a problem. (I hope! This was one of the things I loved about working there.)
posted by rtha at 9:49 AM on June 3, 2008

Are you looking for the peanut sauce for SALADS or as a MARINADE?

Trader Joe's sells an awesome Asian peanut salad dressing - love it. I even buy two bottles at a time so I don't run out. By the way, ask your favorite Thai restaurant if they sell their peanut sauce. Our local restaurant does.
posted by HeyAllie at 11:13 AM on June 3, 2008